This list of academic opportunities comes courtesy of Dr. Ann Lesch, Associate Provost for International Programs.

******

19th International DAVO Congress in Erlangen, 4-6 October 2012

 

Call for Papers for Pre-organized Panels

 

1)   Armed Groups and the Arab Spring: Challenges and Opportunities

2)   Processes of Transformation in Society and Politics in the Context of Web

2.0 Communication

3)   A New Nationalism? Identity and Nationalism in a Revolutionary Context

4)   The Year after Fukushima: Chances and Challenges for Sustainable Energy

Policies in the MENA-Region

5)   Religious Movements as Political Actors in the Near East

6)   Economic Development in the Middle East and North Africa

7)   “Euroislam” in Eastern Europe

8)   “Citizenship” as a Result of the Arab Spring?

9)   Islamic Economics and Islamic Finance

10) Economic Dimensions of Political Upheaval in the Arab World:

Perspectives and Consequences

11) Migration, Mobility or Movements: Ways of People, Ideas and Goods

Around the Mediterranean Sea

12) Arab Spring: Background, Targets and Obstacles

13) The Military Factor in the Economy and the Implications for the

Development in North Africa and Western Asia

14) Non-oil Economic Growth and Stability in Iraq

15) Re-thinking Geopolitics in the Post-2011-Revolutions in the Arab World

16) The Muslim Brothers: New Roles, New Historiographies

17) The Syrian Uprising – Motives, Actors and Agendas

18)  MENA and its Diasporas: Impacts on Homeland Politics

19) Conceptions of Gender in Turkey and the Turkish Diaspora

20) The Political and Economic Role of Turkey in the Near East

 

1) Armed Groups and the Arab Spring: Challenges and Opportunities

Organiser: Somdeep Sen, PhD Fellow, Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen

As the Arab Spring triggered unprecedented regional events, the majority of the subsequent intellectual and political discourse has chosen to focus on post-revolution institutional and governance issues. While such discussions are critical for ensuring the ‘success’ of the revolution, it ignores key regional (power) stakeholders, namely, armed (non-state) groups. With changing alliances, rising Islamists and fragile state institutions, this panel explores the future of armed groups in a tumultuous Middle East. The panel will specifically focus on how regional events have (or promise to) impact strategies, organizational characteristics, structures and operational logic of armed non-state groups.

Please send your abstracts until 4. June 2012 to: Somdeep Sen, somdeeps@gmail.com; or: sos@ifs.ku.dk

 

2) Gesellschaftspolitische Transformationsprozesse im Kontext von Web 2.0-Kommu-nikation

Organisatoren: Thomas Demmelhuber, Universität Hildesheim / Georg Glasze, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

Die Aufstände nach den Wahlen im Iran 2009, die als (gescheiterte) grüne „Twitter-Revolution“ bekannt wurden, sowie insbesondere die gesellschaftlichen Umbrüche in der arabischen Welt seit 2011, die teilweise als „Facebook- und Twitter-Revolutionen“ beschrieben wurde, haben vielfältige Debatten über neue Formen der Mobilisierung und Organisation politischer Interessensgruppen ausgelöst. Während in klassischen Massenmedien und der Frühphase des Internets Inhalte von wenigen Anbietern zur Verfügung gestellt wurden, wird mit den neuen technischen Möglichkeiten eine Differenzierung zwischen Produzent und Konsument in weiten Teilen obsolet. Texte, Filme, Karten, Fotos etc. können jetzt von Internetnutzern mit relativ geringen Ressourcen generiert, modifiziert, kontextualisiert und neu im Internet präsentiert werden. Die zunehmende Bedeutung dieses user generated content gilt als das zentrale Merkmal des Web 2.0 – dem „Mitmachweb“.

Während zahlreiche Autoren die neuen Kommunikationsmöglichkeiten im Web 2.0 als Form von empowerment und Grundlage für Liberalisierungs- und Demokratisierungsprozesse beurteilen, warnen andere Stimmen vor einer Netzeuphorie (vgl. Evgeny Morozov). Vor diesem Hintergrund wollen wir ein Forum für konzeptionelle und empirische Beiträge bieten, welche gesellschaftspolitische Transformationsprozesse im Kontext von Web 2.0-Kommunikation durchleuchten. Willkommen sind beispielsweise Beiträge zu

-       der Rolle von sozialen Medien im Kontext der Umbrüche in der arabischen Welt,

-       neuen Formen der Web 2.0-Kartographie wie bspw. den Krisenkarten im Kontext der Umbrüche in Libyen, Syrien, Tunesien und anderen Staaten,

-       Interaktionen zwischen Cyberaktivismus und traditionelleren Formen politischer Auseinandersetzung,

-       Fragen der Rolle von neuen Medien in Liberalisierung- und Demokratisierungsprozessen

Vortragsanmeldungen mit abstracts bitte bis zum 4. Juni 2012 an:

gg.glasze@geographie.uni-erlangen.de und thomas.demmelhuber@uni-hildesheim.de

 

 

3) A New Nationalism? Identity and Nationalism in a Revolutionary Context

Organiser: Luisa Gandolfo, University of York

As the revolution continues across the region, accepted definitions of national identity are contested and renegotiated. The fall of authoritarian leaders who once endeavoured to embody the nation has resulted in a vacuum in which the people move to reclaim and construct a new national identity. In contrast, countries once united engage in conflict that prompts a fracturing of a once united national consciousness. This panel seeks to explore the evolution of national identity in the MENA region over the course of the Arab Spring and welcomes submissions addressing all aspects of national identity.

Please send your abstracts until 4. June to: luisa.gandolfo@york.ac.uk

 

4) The Year after Fukushima: Chances and Challenges for Sustainable Energy Policies in the MENA-Region

Organiser: Dr. Beyhan Sentürk, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Berlin

The finite nature of oil and gas, increasing domestic demands and diminishing export revenues are forcing policy-makers in these natural resource rich countries of the MENA region to look for alternatives. Even though the region has, by worldwide comparison, a high potential to develop renewable energies, they are, at present, poorly (or marginally) developed. Nuclear energy programmes are being debated in many MENA-countries, but this choice remains problematic both for security and ecological reasons.

Which political options exist? How is the discrepancy between the potential and the accomplished performance explainable? Will the Arab Spring raise the chances for an “energy revolution” in the Middle East? From a socio-economic and security perspective, the panel will address the possibilities offered by establishing sustainable energy policies.

Please send your abstracts until 4. June to: Beyhan Sentürk, Beyhan.Sentuerk@fes.de

 

5) Religiöse Bewegungen als politische Akteure im Nahen Osten

Organisatoren: Peter Lintl, Christian Thuselt, Christian Wolff /Universität Erlangen

Politische Akteure mit religiöser Programmatik scheinen sich momentan in der Region des Nahen Ostens auf dem Vormarsch zu befinden. Dort haben sich insbesondere seit dem Arabischen Frühling vollkommen neue Rahmenbedingungen ergeben.

In Tunesien und Marokko haben islamisch-konservative Parteien bereits die meisten Sitze im Parlament errungen, in Ägypten wurden die Muslimbrüder stärkste Partei. Daneben politisieren sich seit den demokratischen Systemöffnungen zunehmend salafistische Bewegungen. Auch die schiitische Gemeinschaft wird im Irak wie im Libanon fast ausnahmslos von Parteien vertreten, die einer dezidiert politischen Theologie verpflichtet sind.

Aber das Auftreten religiöser Akteure in der Politik ist kein spezifisch islamisches Phänomen, sondern auch in Christen- und Judentum zu beobachten. In Israel etwa führt die rasante quantitative Zunahme der Ultraorthodoxie auch zu deren politischer Expansion und somit immer öfter zu einem Kampf um Moral und religiöse Normativität im öffentlichen Raum. Darüberhinaus stellt die bisweilen staatsfeindliche Agitation radikaler Siedler eine völlig neue Qualität dieser Auseinandersetzung dar. Im Libanon formulieren seit Jahrzehnten bedeutende Christenparteien wie die al-kata`ib die politischen Ansprüche ihrer Anhängerschaft an den Staat in religiös aufgeladenen Symbolen.

Ziel des Panels ist es, Hintergründe und Konsequenzen des politischen Erstarkens religiöser Bewegungen zu untersuchen. Im Fokus stehen dabei Fragen wie: Mit welchem normativen Anspruch treten diese im öffentlichen Raum auf? Wie wird das Gemeinwohl aus religiöser Sicht begründet?  Welche Rolle spielen sie in Bezug auf eine Demokratisierung? Warum politisieren sich nun quietistische Bewegungen wie die Salafisten?

Eine Veröffentlichung in Buchform wird angestrebt. Bitte senden Sie Ihre abstracts bis zum 4.6. an: religionnahost@gmail.com

 

6) Economic Development in the Middle East and North Africa

Organisation: Steffen Wippel and Christian Steiner

Papers are invited which are tackling economic and/or economic and social policy related issues in the MENA Region from different theoretical as well as empirical perspectives.         Please send your paper proposals with abstract until 4. June to: Steffen Wippel, steffen.wippel@rz.hu-berlin.de and Christian Steiner, Steiner@em.uni- frankfurt.de

 7) „Euroislam“ in Osteuropa

Organisiert von Swetlana Czerwonnaja, Nikolaus Kopernikus Universität (Thorn / Torun, Polen)

Eine Theorie des “Euroislams” wurde in den Kreisen der politischen Eliten und der wissenschaftlichen Intelligenz der Republik Tatarstan im 20. Jahrhundert auf der Basis des Djadidismus von Ismail Bey Gaspraly (1851-1914) und anderer fortschrittlicher, auf die Modernisierung des Lebens der Muslimischen Völker gerichteten Konzeptionen entwickelt. Die Besonderheiten dieser Theorien sowie ihre politische und kulturelle Bedeutung (insbesondere nach dem 11. September 2001) besteht darin, dass sie sich gegen radikale Tendenzen und Bewegungen in der islamischen Welt richten, den Islam vom “asiatischen” Radikalismus und Fundamentalismus befreien und ihn in die europäische Kultur und in die modernisierte post-industrielle Gesellschaft integrieren wollen. Dem Islam soll ein „europäisches Antlitz” und Europa ein menschliches, „islamisches Antlitz” gegeben werden.

Ziel des Panels ist einerseits die Vorstellung dieser Theorien, andererseits die Untersuchung, wie sie sowohl bei der muslimischen als auch der christlichen Bevölkerung in den osteuropäischen Staaten aufgenommen werden, wie die Regierungen sich zu ihnen stellen und welchen Einfluss und Bekanntheitsgrad sie über die Region hinaus haben”.

Bitte schicken Sie Vortragsanmeldungen mit abstract (300 Worte) bis zum 4. Juni 2012 an Prof. Swetlana Czerwonnaja, swetlana@umk.pl

 

“Citizenship is the Solution”: Is it the Upshot of the Arabic Spring?

Organised by Hala Kindelberger, University of Potsdam

“Citizenship is the Solution” (El-Mowatna heya el-Hall) is the new slogan in the Arabic world after the Arabic Spring. Especially the minorities and the less privileged people in the society of the Arabic World feel discriminated and ignored both in the labor market, and in having access to many rights. Justice is not for all and it is differentiated according to the connections one has, also before court and judges.

The old slogans used like Democracy, Liberalism or Secular State are attacked by the Islamist political groups and are pictured as an anti-Islamic western model, which makes them weak and difficult to defend or to be adopted. Here “Citizenship” offers a good alternative. It helps that the word does not carry bad connotations and is also not too novel, since it has been used by the old regimes in Syria, Egypt, Tunisia and the Golf Monarchies in the course of reformation and transition.

In the neo-patrimonial authoritarian regimes in the Arabic world, belonging and networking with the head of the states is vital. Qualification or knowledge plays no role, people are not the same before the law. Will the concept of “Citizenship” under the Islamist governments gain importance or will it remain the same? Can the Monarchies keep their neo-patrimonial system the way it was or will it be affected by the revolutionary demands to go forward in reforming the citizenship concept? Which role do the Islamist political groups play in weakening or encouraging the “Citizenship” concept?

The panel aim is to debate the concept of “Citizenship,” its definitions and its compatibility with the existing regimes in the MENA-Region, but also in Israel as a “democratic” neighbor and a geographic partner in the region. To what extent the people in the MENA region are aware about “Citizenship” should also be addressed in some presentations. Which importance will the Islamists grant to civil society organizations and human rights legislation: will they remain marginalized as before or will there be tendency towards improvement?

It is also sought to compare and to analyze the common points or similarities as well as the differences between the aforementioned countries. Contributions of case studies or conception papers are welcome from different disciplines.

The deadline for the submission of abstracts (no more than 300 words) is 04 June 2012. Abstracts should be sent to Hala Kindelberger (University of Potsdam): hala.k@hotmail.de

 

9) Islamic Economics and Islamic Finance

Organized by: Heiko Schuß, University of Erlangen

Islamic Economics promised to offer an alternative to capitalism and communism. While the results of establishing an Islamic national economy are not convincing, industries which are offering Islamic products, like halal food or Islamic financial services, are flourishing on a global scale. These products obviously serve to define the Islamic identities of their consumers. Against the background of the global financial and economic crisis it might be asked if these products present a more ethical way to do business or if it is just a marketing strategy to address pious Muslim customers.

Paper presenters dealing with topics of Islamic economic theory, Islamic finance, halal food industry and trade, Islamic clothes, Islamic tourism, etc. are invited to participate in this panel.

Please send your abstracts until 4. June 2012 to: Dr. Heiko Schuß, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Heiko.Schuss@orient.phil.uni-erlangen.de

 

10) Economic Dimensions of Political Upheaval in the Arab World:
Perspectives and Consequences

Organiser: Juliane Brach (Universität Kopenhagen), Markus Loewe (Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik, Bonn), Anja Zorob (Freie Universität Berlin)

The year 2011 has changed the political order of several Arab countries, while the structures and deficits of their economies have remained widely unchanged. In addition, several countries have seen some of their major sources of external income ebb away (especially tourism and foreign investment). However, even the path of political development in the Arab world– especially in post-revolutionary Tunisia, Egypt and Libya – depends foremost on economic reforms and improvements in the socio-economic living conditions. What can governments (and other actors) do to reactivate external income sources as well as overcome the structural deficits of the Arab economies?

Please send your abstracts until 4. June 2012 to:  Markus Loewe, markus.loewe@die-gdi.de

 

11) Migration, Mobility or Movements: Ways of People, Ideas and Goods around the Mediterranean Sea

Organiser: Ines Braune, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, University of Marburg

The increasing movement of people, ideas and goods around the globe is one of the most defining attributes of the globalized world. This is most notably relevant for the Mediterranean region, due to its geographical position, and function as a bridge between wealthy Europe, and the countries of the southern shore of the Mediterranean.

Concepts like migration and integration seem to focus mainly on linear and one-dimensional processes of peoples’ movements and victimize often the actors. Mobility is a more appropriate term to discuss recent movements with its complex and multidimensional effects.

This panel focuses on the mobility of people, ideas and goods from different scientific approaches. Case studies and ethnographic accounts are welcome, as are contributions from any other field as well.

Please send your abstracts until 4. June 2012 to: ines.braune@uni-marburg.de

 

12) Arab Spring: Background, Targets and Obstacles

Organiser: Fawzy Naji, Berlin

Politicians in both the west and the east have been surprised by the Arab Spring; few could have predicted it. The results of this process of transformation have set new standards in the relationships between ruler and people and between regional and international cooperation. The desired outcomes of the Arab Spring, the abolition of dictatorships and the creation of new democratic systems with social justice, have been met with internal, regional and international obstacles.

In this panel the opportunity will be given to discuss the following topics:

• Background of the Arab Spring
• Targets of the Arabic Revolutions
• Internal, regional and international obstacles
• Dictatorships in the Arab World
• Democracy and human rights
• Political players in the Middle East
• Political Islam
• Arab Spring and the International Community

Please send your abstracts until 4.6.2012 to Dr. Fawzy Naji (f.naji@hotmail.de).

 

13) The Military Factor in the Economy and the Implications for the Development in North Africa and Western Asia

Organisatorin: Sabine Hofmann, FU Berlin

Im weltweit verlaufenden Prozess der Aufrüstung weisen die MENA-Staaten und -Gesellschaften im globalen Maßstab weiterhin den höchsten Grad der Militarisierung auf (siehe GMI des BICC; Rüstungsstatistiken laut SIPRI). Mit den erneuten Vereinbarungen zur Lieferung von Waffensystemen (wie Leopard II-Panzer an Saudi-Arabien, Dolphin-U-Boot an Israel) sowie den atomaren Waffenpotentialen und -ansprüchen steigt das Gefahrenpotential nicht nur in der ohnehin seit Jahrzehnten angespannten Krisenregion, sondern weltweit. Auch der Rüstungstransfer im informellen Sektor trägt zur Anspannung der Rüstungsspirale bei. Weiterhin kommt Militärtechnik zunehmend in der sog. unkonventionellen Kriegsführung zur Anwendung, wie in der Terrorismusabwehr und gegen Piraterie. Primär nach außen zur Verteidigung des eigenen Gemeinwesens gerichtet, wird sie mit Sicherheitsbegründungen zunehmend innen eingesetzt. Militärisch basierte Technologien sind in Überwachungssystemen und zur Informationsbeschaffung auch in den zivilen Alltag integriert worden (wie Drohnen, Sicherheitsdetektoren, GPS).

Das Panel will sich insbesondere mit dem Einfluss von Rüstungswirtschaft und Militärtechnologie auf Wirtschaft und Politik unter den gegenwärtigen Bedingungen regionaler Machtverschiebungen und globaler Krisenprozesse befassen. Im Mittelpunkt stehen der quantitative und qualitative Einfluss des militärischen Faktors auf Wirtschaft, Politik und Gesellschaft und die Implikationen für die Entwicklung in Nordafrika und Westasien.

Das Panel ist offen für die interdisziplinäre und vergleichende Analyse. Willkommen sind sowohl theoretische Überlegungen zum Verhältnis von Rüstung, Militär und Wirtschaft als auch empirische Einzel- und Vergleichsanalysen der sozialwissenschaftlichen Forschung. Fragestellungen der Diskussion sind unter anderem:

- Innenpolitische und gesellschaftliche Folgen von Produktion, Export und Import von Rüstungsgütern,

- Anstieg von Rüstungsproduktion und -export im Gesamtprozess der nationalen Wirtschaft – „Motor“ für Wirtschaftswachstum?

- Einfluss von militärisch induzierten Technologien auf die primär zivile Wirtschaft – volkswirtschaftlich teure spillover-Effekte oder politisch notwendig?

- Treiben globale Netzwerke des informellen Rüstungsmarktes das Aufrüsten in der Region an?

Bitte senden Sie Ihre abstracts bis zum 4. Juni 2012 an: Dr. Sabine Hofmann: shofmann@zedat.fu-berlin.de

 

 

14) Non-oil Economic Growth and Stability in Iraq

Organised by: Şefik Alp Bahadir, University Erlangen-Nürnberg

The key themes of the panel are issues of generating sustainable economic growth, employment, and social safety nets, improving human resource management, and reforming public institutions and governmental policies in Iraq.

Please send your abstracts (up to 300 words) until 4. June 2012 to: Prof. Şefik Alp Bahadir, sefik.alp.bahadir@Orient.phil.uni-erlangen.de

 

 

15) Re-Thinking Geopolitics in the Post-2011-Revolutions in the Arab World

Session 1: The Case of Saudi Arabia” – Session 2: The Case of Syria

Organizer: Dr. Ala Al-Hamarneh, CERAW – Institute of Geography, University of Mainz

The 2011 revolutions, revolts and mass protests in many Arab countries changed the regional and international rules of the geopolitical game in the WANA region (West Asia and North Africa). Or at least it caused radical adjustments and corrections in visions, methods, estimations and aims of the geopolitical actors.

In this panel we would like to examine how regional and international political actors in various cases of political crises have decided to act and to react; which instruments have been used? Which aims and visions they had? And to which extend these decisions have re-shaped the geopolitical situation in the WANA region.

Two cases have been chosen to be addressed in two separate sessions; the Saudi and the Syrian cases. The Saudi case should demonstrate, on the one hand, the political and economic re-positioning of Saudi Arabia in the post-2011-revolutions by exemplifying the role of the Kingdom on various levels and layers in Bahrain, Yemen, Libya, Egypt etc. as well as the changing interactions in the GCC, with Iran, Turkey and the USA. On the other hand, we would like to tackle the dependencies of domestic politics (regime stability, the Shia issue, etc.) on the regional and international tactics of the country. The Syrian case should demonstrate the “international geopolitical” factors in the development of the domestic political crises; the interests of neighboring countries, the “Sunni” and the “Shia” regional factors, the Lebanon interaction, the Palestinian/Israeli factor etc.  We hope by tackling these two country cases to be able to demonstrate the dynamics of the geopolitical shifts, impacts and their backgrounds in the WANA region.

Please send your abstract until 4. June 2012 to Dr Ala Al-Hamarneh at a.al-hamarneh@geo.uni-mainz.de (please mention DAVO-Geopolitics Panel-Abstract in the title of the email).

 

 

16) The Muslim Brothers: New Roles, New Historiographies

Organised by: Uri Kupferschmidt, University of Haifa

The latest elections in Egypt and other developments in the Middle East have opened a new phase in the eighty-four years history of the Society of the Muslim Brothers. While their future course in politics is difficult to predict, the proposed panel intends to raise questions on past and present perspectives in historiography and research, and the need to revise or go beyond the existing literature.

Emphasis has often fallen on the early ideological tenets and the political narrative of the Muslim Brothers, as well as their confrontations with various governments, and has also tilted towards their most prominent leaders. No doubt, this was also because of the perspective of the rulers. Though an ideological transformation and gradual adaptation to new realities over the past few decades had been observed, this has so far hardly led to a systematic revisiting of the main narrative.

The proposed panel intends to put the evolvement of the Muslim Brothers in a long-term perspective, be it one of good fortune or one of strategic acumen and planning. One may think of  the development of their internal structure, ostensible or real democratic processes within the ranks of the movement, the role attributed to or asserted by women, relations between the three or more generations in the movement, the actual construction of popular bases of power, their performance in the various parliaments and trade unions under the Mubarak regime, their actual coping with economic realities, including poverty and enrichment, and the use of mass media and technology.

Abstracts of no more than 300 words should be submitted until 4. June 2012 to Uri Kupferschmidt, kpfrschm@research.haifa.ac.il

 

17) The Syrian Uprising – Motives, Actors and Agendas

Organized by: Anja Zorob and Salam Said

Vortragssprachen / Languages:  Deutsch/German, Englisch/English

The Syrian Uprising which started in March 2011is characterized as the longest, most violent and apparently also most opaque struggle for freedom and dignity in the framework of the “Arab Awakening”. The atrocities committed by the security forces loyal to the regime against armed opposition groups and, in a similar manner, the overwhelming majority of those peacefully demonstrating everyday in towns and villages all over Syria seems to have divided the Syrian population into two fronts for and against Assad. In addition, all calls for an end of violence brought forth by the Syrian opposition in- and outside the country, the Arab neighbors and the international community have been ignored so far. Against this background the Syrian regime has isolated itself to a large degree in the international political arena. Moreover, the United States, the European Union and others introduced harsh and extensive economic sanctions against the country.

The aim of this panel is, on the one hand, to identify and discuss different socio-economic and political motives or driving factors behind the uprising. On the other hand, the panel wants to throw a more detailed look on the major actors pro and contra the protests on the local as well as external levels as well as to explore their claims, ideas and agendas. This discussion shall not only focus on or be limited to “the family”, oppositional groups or forces loyal to the regime, private entrepreneurs, religious or ethnic groups or different external actors, but shall include also the local and international media, for instance. Finally, the panel aims at investigating and analyzing actual and potential long-term effects of the uprising on the Syrian economy, culture and society.

Paper proposals (300 words approx.) should be sent directly to Anja Zorob, Ruhr University Bochum (anja.zorob@rub.de) and Salam Said, FU Berlin (salamsaid@zedat.fu-berlin.de) by June 4, 2012.

 

 

18)  MENA and its Diasporas: Impacts on Homeland Politics

Organiser: Paul Tabar, Lebanese American University, Institute for Migration Studies

This panel will explore the dynamics of the political relationships between Middle Eastern Diasporas and their homelands in terms of their impact on the state, national identities, and peace and conflict. This theme would be incorporating theoretical discussions on issues such as transnational political activity, long-distance nationalism, political remittances and the trans-border extension of citizenship rights among others. Case studies could include Lebanon, Egypt, Israel, Turkey and other MENA countries with sizable and politically active diasporas.

Please send your abstracts (up to 300 words) until 4. June 2012 to:  Paul Tabar ptabar@ lau.edu.lb

 

19)  Conceptions of Gender in Turkey and the Turkish Diaspora

The panel examines the social construction of gender in Turkey and the Turkish Diaspora. Considering the various social, economic, and political changes that have been taking place in recent years – as for instance the rise of a political Islam, the expansion of consumer culture, or the adoption of new laws and regulations as regards the status of women in society –

it can be assumed that common conceptions of gender have been changing as well. Our session aims to explore these changes not only in a Turkish, but also in a European context. We are particularly interested in questions like: How do men and women negotiate gender identities in everyday life? Do cultural globalization processes and social change foster the emergence of new concepts of masculinity and femininity? Do particularly young people challenge traditional morality or do they hold on to dominant concepts of gender identity?

Please send your abstracts (300 words) to Carina Großer-Kaya, Universität Leipzig: carinagro@freenet.de and Pierre Hecker, Universität Marburg: pierre.hecker@staff.uni-marburg.de

 

20) The Political and Economic Role of Turkey in the Near East

Organisatoren: Nasim Barham / Dietrich Jung, University of Southern Denmark

Es gibt bereits eine feste Gruppe von ReferentInnen, weitere Interessenten können sich wenden an: barham_nasim@hotmail.com